Beyond Aero completed the first wind tunnel tests of its BYA-1 hydrogen-electric business jet as it approaches the end of the program's preliminary design review, it said yesterday. According to the French start-up, tests with a one-eighth-scale model were conducted at the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels Low-Speed Facility at Marknesse in the Netherlands over five weeks in the fourth quarter.

The Toulouse-based company is developing a product it bills as “the first electric business jet powered by hydrogen propulsion,” focusing on fuel cell technology and gaseous hydrogen to transport six passengers up to 800 nm.

The recent wind tunnel campaign builds on design refinements announced in March, featuring an increased fuel cell stack capacity of 2.4 megawatts and wing-mounted 700-bar gaseous fuel tanks. In October, Beyond Aero reported that the hydrogen-electric propulsion system it developed in-house had also achieved technology readiness level 6.

“Having the tanks outside the primary fuselage volume makes aerodynamic optimization both necessary and interesting, as it allows us to actively manage these flow interactions rather than constrain them internally, while also supporting safety, integration, and certification considerations specific to hydrogen,” Beyond Aero told AIN. It is aiming for the BYA-1 to enter service around 2030.

NBAA is advising that recent IRS guidance may expand the eligibility for 100% business expensing, also known as bonus depreciation, which took effect one year ago. Adopted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the full restoration of bonus depreciation applied to capital business purchases, including aircraft, beginning on Jan. 20, 2025. The updated guidance, Notice 2026-11, clarifies that 100% bonus depreciation may be available for some aircraft delivered on or after that date when a purchase agreement was executed before then.

Bonus depreciation applies to whole and fractional aircraft purchases used predominantly for business travel. This guidance is consistent with expectations and information in an NBAA member resource on the tax.

“Accordingly, a taxpayer that signed a written binding aircraft purchase contract on or before Jan. 19, 2025, and before construction of the aircraft began, but took delivery of the aircraft (i.e., transfer of title) after Jan. 19, 2025, may be eligible for 100% bonus depreciation,” according to the NBAA resource.

Noting that the tax treatment may differ depending on the use of accrual and cash basis, NBAA advised owners to discuss the applicability of the interim guidance with legal or tax counsel. The association anticipates upcoming proposed regulations to provide more detail.

Meanwhile, NBAA will discuss this and other topics during its Business Aviation Taxes Seminar on April 28 in Denver.

With the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place once again this week in Davos, Switzerland, Jet Aviation’s FBO at Zurich Airport (LSZH) will once again be providing sustainable aviation fuel for departing aircraft.

The company was the first to make sustainable aviation fuel available in Switzerland for the 2020 WEF. It has had physical SAF on hand during these conferences since 2023, with a book-and-claim option in 2022.

WEF, which runs through Friday, typically attracts scores of private flights to the area’s airports, and the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel is encouraging aircraft operators and delegations traveling to Davos-Klosters to contact their fuel providers and FBOs to secure SAF or use book-and-claim where it is not physically available.

“We are delighted to be able to offer SAF onsite again during the [WEF] in Davos,” said Joao Martins, Jet Aviation’s v-p of FBO operations for Europe and general manager of its Zurich location. “SAF is an important part of supporting our industry’s efforts towards a more sustainable future.”

The global aviation services provider offers SAF at 13 locations worldwide and across its FBO network via a book-and-claim program, which enables operators to purchase SAF benefits in areas where the actual fuel is not yet available.

Bombardier made several changes to its leadership team in a move that the Montreal-headquartered company said will help build on its customer relationships and product improvement initiatives, continue the evolution of its defense business, and position the company for long-term strategic opportunities.

To that end, Bombardier hired Sandra Hodgkinson to serve as senior v-p of strategy and mergers and acquisitions. Hodgkinson previously held positions in the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps, as well as other positions at the U.S. Department of Defense, the White House, and the Department of State. Most recently, she led strategy and corporate development at Leonardo DRS, where she steered multiple successful M&A efforts.

It also tapped long-time employee Stephen McCullough as executive v-p of engineering, product development, and Bombardier Defense. The promotion expands on McCullough’s purview, formerly as senior v-p of engineering and product development.

Meanwhile, Bombardier also expanded the role of Paul Sislian under his new title of executive v-p of aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Sislian is a 17-year Bombardier employee who previously held leadership roles in business jet manufacturing operations, Bombardier’s aerostructures business, and, most recently, aftermarket services and corporate strategy.

The company further named Mercedes Glockseisen to succeed Pierre Gagnon as senior v-p, general counsel, and corporate secretary. Glockseisen, who joined the company in 2011, was previously v-p of contracts and legal services for Bombardier.

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Asia-Pacific helicopter operators are primarily focusing on harmonization of their fleets, optimizing the life cycle of their helicopters, and supportability, “particularly as OEM lead times extend and operating costs rise.” These are the key takeaways from the "APAC Helicopter Market Report 2025" just released by preowned rotorcraft sales and maintenance provider Rotortrade.

There is a split between those with long-term experience operating helicopters, who tend to buy more preowned machines, and those in less mature markets. The latter prefer new helicopters as they face regulatory, financing, or capability constraints, according to Rotortrade.

The strongest Asia-Pacific growth for helicopters last year was in India, Australia, and New Zealand. China and Southeast Asia “continue to evolve at a measured pace,” the company added.

“APAC is not a single market,” said Aurelien Blanc, Rotortrade’s executive director and APAC, Middle East, and Africa head of region. “It’s a spectrum of maturity, and the way you sell a helicopter changes completely depending on where each country sits on that curve. In APAC, even neighboring countries operate under completely different rules, with very different levels of operational experience and capability.”

The spectrum of market maturity among Asia-Pacific countries “directly influences fleet strategy, procurement behavior, and openness to preowned aircraft,” he added. “As markets mature, preowned aircraft stop being a compromise and become the natural solution.”

TransDigm Group is acquiring Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings in a cash transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, including certain tax benefits. Portfolio holdings of Vance Street Capital, the two companies collectively generated about $280 million in revenue last year. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals in the U.S. and customary closing conditions.

Jet Parts Engineering, headquartered in Seattle, designs and manufactures proprietary FAA PMA parts and repair solutions primarily for aircraft fleet operators, as well as MRO providers. The company employs about 300 people and derives nearly all of its revenue from the commercial aftermarket.

Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings serves the general aviation and business aviation markets through brands including McFarlane Aviation, Tempest Aero Group, and Aviation Products Systems. Victor Sierra employs about 400 people and operates from multiple facilities across the U.S.

TransDigm chairman, president, and CEO Mike Lisman said the two businesses are profitable and align with TransDigm’s strategy of acquiring highly engineered, proprietary aftermarket product lines that generate recurring commercial revenue. TransDigm said Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra will continue to operate independently following the acquisition, consistent with its long-term operating model.

Nicholas Air has taken delivery of five new business jets, adding three light Embraer Phenom 300Es and two midsize Cessna Citation Latitudes to its fleet as part of what the company described as a measured growth strategy. The Nashville-based private aviation provider said the additions were driven by mission profiles requested by its jet card members, particularly for short- and mid-range operations. The aircraft align with its approach of expanding capacity without accelerating growth beyond operational standards, the company said.

According to Nicholas Air, it continues to prioritize consistency and fleet suitability over scale. The company characterized the latest deliveries as supporting its goal of maintaining a young and versatile fleet tailored to member demand.

These aircraft also support pilot advancement opportunities within its Part 135 operation. According to the company, the fleet mix allows pilots to progress internally to larger and more complex airframes. “Providing our pilots with the opportunity to upgrade internally to larger, more complex airframes is a key part of our retention strategy,” said company founder and CEO Nicholas Correnti.

The company said the newly acquired airplanes complement its existing fleet, which ranges from light to ultra-long-range jets, and provide additional flexibility for jet card members whose travel needs fall between those categories.

Michigan-based aviation fuel distributor Avfuel expanded its footprint in the Midwest U.S. with the addition of two new locations in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Fort Wayne Aero Center, the lone service provider at Fort Wayne International Airport (KFWA), has been operated by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority for a decade now. It features a modern 15,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal with a passenger lobby equipped with a fireplace, pilot lounge and snooze room, two conference rooms, and a fitness center with shower facilities. The complex offers more than 100,000 sq ft of heated hangar space, which can accommodate ultra-long-range business jets.

At nearby dedicated general aviation airport Smith Field (KSMD) with its 3,100-foot main runway, sister facility Smith Field Aero Center provides a passenger terminal with a lounge, full-service fueling, crew car, and flight-planning services.

Both locations will now participate in the Avtrip customer loyalty program and offer Avfuel contract fueling, while accepting the Avfuel Pro Card for payment.

“Joining the Avfuel Network is an exciting step for both Fort Wayne Aero Center and Smith Field Aero Center,” said Justin Treft, who is director of FBO operations for both locations. “Avfuel’s reputation and customer-first approach align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering a reliable, high-quality experience for every operator we serve.”